This document analyzes 190 research articles on quality provisioning for multimedia services over next generation networks from 2006-2010. It finds that resource management and packet scheduling received the most attention, while areas like error control and mobility management received less. Simulation was the most common research methodology. About a third of research focused on Internet-like networks, though this share is expected to increase with LTE deployment. The analysis aims to provide an aggregated overview of the field and highlight trends to help guide future research.

1. A Quantitative Analysis of the State of the Art in
Quality Provisioning for Multimedia Services over
Next Generation Networks
Iffat Ahmed, Leonardo Badia
IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Piazza San Ponziano 6, 55100 Lucca, Italy
Dept. of Information Engineering, Università di Padova, via Gradenigo 6B, 35131 Padova, Italy
iffat.ahmed@imtlucca.it, badia@dei.unipd.it
Abstract: Motivation:
Meta Analysis Research Methodology Research trend of the topic can be predicted from scattered results
A method of analysis in which text are systematically
Main motivation is to aggregate research results
examined by identifying and grouping themes and
coding, classifying and developing categories. Check the research trends for the field
Investigated 190 articles for period 2006-2010 from leading Investigate lacking areas
journals, magazines, conferences. Define the taxonomies under the umbrella of Multimedia quality
Selection of top ranked collection is strong suite provisioning
Subject Area Taxonomy Scope of the study
Call Admission Control Network Management Trans on MM Mobile
11% Computing 7% Infocom 4%
Cross Layer design Packet/Flow Scheduling TSCVT 4% JSAC 5% Sigcomm 3%
Error Control Power control
W. Comm 9% Comm. Letters 3% Mobicom 3%
Mobility Management Rate Control
Trans on Comm 6% Globecom 24% Comm Mag 5%
Multicast/Broadcast Resource Management
Trans on Net 7% ICME 9% Trans Info. 1%
Management Routing Theory
The fields of Resource Management (allocation/
reservation) and Packet scheduling appear to be
prominent. Instead, error control, mobility
management, power control, routing and security
have received minor attention in the field of
multimedia quality
(64%) of the research work done in multimedia
quality provisioning is based on simulation. The
second-preferred research methodology is
mathematical analysis, which is adopted by 16% of
the researchers. Still there are some researchers
that use experimentations or real-life evaluations.
The high frequency of papers investigating layer
2 may be due to the common presence of cross-
layer investigations, which therefore involve more
than one OSI layer.
Networks are classified based on their Medium
Access control criteria. Internet-like architec-
tures, also including Local and Wide Area
Networks. WSN importance is expected to rise in
the close future.
Conclusion:
In near future, 90% of data in networks will be multimedia
Need to provide better quality solution
Research results are scattered
About one third of the research has This study provides aggregated overview of the field
been performed over Internet-like
technologies. We expect this value to Might be useful for upcoming researchers for the
increase dramatically in the next years selection of subtopic within this field
together with further deployment of LTE
Highlight the existing research trends
Defines most and least investigated areas with respect
to research models, methodologies, taxonomy and
underlying network technology used